Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF INVENTION: VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR
ASSEMBLING VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure and a method for
assembling a vehicle body structure.
Background Art
[0002]
Conventionally, a roof panel forming the upper surface of a vehicle body is
arranged between a pair of side components that are provided on the left side
and the
right side of the vehicle body and form the sides portions of the vehicle
body, and roof
arches are arranged to reinforce the upper portion of the vehicle body, the
upper portion
including the roof panel.
[0003]
FIG. 14A is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle body
structure in
a conventional example in Patent Document 1, with a cut in the vehicle-
transversal
direction, and FIG. 14B is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the
vehicle body
structure disclosed by Patent Document 1, with a cut in the vehicle-
transversal
direction.
1
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
54585-5
For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, an invention is taken as a conventional
example in Patent Document 1, wherein a side component 100 includes a roof
side inner
110 disposed on the vehicle interior side and a roof side outer 120 disposed
on the
vehicle exterior side of the roof side inner 110, wherein the outer end
portion of the roof
arch 130 in the vehicle-transversal direction is fixed on the vehicle interior
side of the
roof side inner 110, and the outer end portion of the roof panel 140 in the
vehicle-transversal direction is fixed on the vehicle exterior side of the
roof side outer
120.
[0004]
According to this invention, if the roof arch 130 is mounted onto the side
component 100 from above, these two interfere with each other so that the roof
arch 130
cannot be disposed on the vehicle interior side of the roof side inner 110.
Accordingly,
the roof arch 130 needs to be carried onto the narrow vehicle interior side to
be attached,
which makes the workability in assembling low, and makes automatization of
assembling work difficult.
[0005]
In this situation, in the invention disclosed by Patent Document 1, as shown
in FIG.
14B, an outer end portion of a roof arch 230 in the vehicle-transversal
direction is subjected to
crush processing, and the portion 230A, whose cross-sectional shape has been
crushed, is fixed
to the upper portion of a side component 200. Thus, by this structure, the
roof arch 230 is
mounted onto the side component 200 from above so that the workability in
assembling is
improved, and automatization of assembling work is easily attained.
Incidentally, the reference
numbers in FIG. 14B for like parts of FIG. 14A are increased by 100.
[0006]
2
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
However, in the invention disclosed by Patent Document 1, as there are
portions with a crushed cross-sectional shape, strength and stiffness are
decreased,
which causes problems that forces for reducing vibration and noises generated
during
driving of the vehicle are decreased, or the distortion amount of the vehicle
body
increases when lateral collision, rollover (overturn), or the like has
occurred.
[0007]
FIG. 15A is a plan view showing the vehicle body structure by the invention
disclosed by Patent Document 2, and FIG 15B is a cross-sectional view, taken
along
line VII-VII in FIG. 15A.
As a solution of the above-described problems, Patent Document 2 discloses an
invention, as shown in FIGs. 15A and 15B, wherein a roof arch 300 is
structured by
joining a roof rail outer 310 and a roof rail inner 320 such as to form a
closed
cross-section, and an extension member 330 and a pillar reinforce member 340,
which
are joined such as to form a closed cross-section, are fixed to a side
component 350 (the
upper surface of a roof side inner 360 in more detail).
[0008]
Further, in the invention disclosed by Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG.
15B, the end edge 310A of the roof outer 310 protrudes in the vehicle-
transversal
direction outside the end edge 320A of the roof rail inner 320. Further, the
end edge
330A of the extension member 330 protrudes vehicle-transversally toward the
center
from the end edge 340A of a pillar reinforce member 340, and the end edge 310A
of the
roof rail outer 310 is mounted and fixed on the end edge 340A of the pillar
reinforce
member 340. Still further, the end edge 320A of the roof rail inner 320 is
mounted and
fixed on the end edge 330A of the extension member 330.
3
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
[0009]
That is, according to the invention disclosed by Patent Document 2, as the
roof
arch 300 (the roof rail outer 310 and the roof rail inner 320) is mounted from
above the
side component 350 (the extension member 330 and the pillar reinforce member
340),
assemblability improves and automatization of assembling work becomes easy.
Further, on the other hand, as it is possible to connect these without
crushing the
cross-sectional shape (closed cross-section) of these, strength and stiffness
are increased,
compared with the invention disclosed by Patent Document 1 in which portions
with a
crushed cross-section are included.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0010]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S58-149866
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-118634
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0011]
However, according to the invention disclosed by Patent Document 1, as
portions with a crushed cross-sectional shape are included, a problem is
caused the
strength and stiffness decreases. On the other hand, according to the
invention
disclosed by Patent Document 2, extension members and pillar reinforce members
are
further necessary, the number of components increases, and the number of
joining
4
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
54585-5
points thus increases, causing a problem that strength and stiffness are not
adequately
ensured.
[0012]
Further, according to the invention disclosed by Patent Document 2, it is
inevitably necessary to provide a clearance between the front wall of an
extension
member and the front wall of a roof rail inner, taking into account a
tolerance, and as it
is not possible to join these with each other at the gap portion, strength and
stiffness are
further decreased.
[0013]
The present invention has been developed in this point of view, and an object
of the invention is to provide a vehicle body structure and a method for
assembling a
vehicle body structure wherein workability during assembly is satisfactory,
automatization of assembling work is easy, and further, strength and stiffness
is
adequately ensured.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0014]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicle body structure
according to the present invention includes: a pair of side components that
are provided
on left and right sides of a vehicle body and form side portions of the
vehicle body; and
a roof component including a roof arch disposed between paired side
components; and a
roof panel fitted to an upper portion than the roof arch and forming an upper
surface of
the vehicle body, wherein the side components each include a roof side rail
disposed at
an upper side edge of the vehicle body and extending in a front or rear
direction,
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
wherein the each roof side rail includes a mount portion extending inward in
the
vehicle-transversal direction and having a vehicle-transversally outer end
portion of the
roof panel mounted thereto, wherein the roof arch includes a vehicle-
transversally outer
end portion that is located outside a vehicle-transversally inner end of the
mount portion
in the vehicle-transversal direction and is joined with the roof side rail,
wherein the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof arch is disposed at a
position spaced
apart from the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel in a
downward
direction, wherein at least one of the roof arch and the roof side rail
extends toward the
other one of the roof arch and the roof side rail and includes a flange
portion that
contacts with said other one of the roof arch and the roof side rail to
restrict downward
movement of the roof arch, wherein the flange portion is located at a position
upper than
the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof arch, wherein the
mount portion
is located between the roof panel and the roof arch with said other one of the
roof arch
and the roof side rail being in contact with the flange portion, and wherein
the mount
portion has the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel
mounted
thereon.
[0015]
According to the present invention, the vehicle-transversally outer end
portion
of the roof arch is disposed at a position that is spaced apart downward from
the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel, and the roof side
rail is
provided with a mount portion that extends inward in the vehicle-transversal
direction
and has the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel mounted
thereon.
Accordingly, after disposing the mount portion of the roof side rail from
outside in the
vehicle-transversal direction to positions between the roof arch and the roof
panel,
6
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
which have been integrally attached to each other in advance, it is possible
to easily
attach a roof component to the side component by just mounting the roof panel
from
above onto the mount portion, which attains satisfactory workability in
assembling and
makes automation of assembly work easy.
[0016]
Further, according to the present invention, at least one of the roof arch and
the
roof side rail extends toward the other one of the roof arch and the roof side
rail and
includes a flange portion that contacts with said other one of the roof arch
and the roof
side rail to restrict downward movement of the roof arch. It is thereby
possible to
define the position of the roof component relative to the side component in
the upper or
lower direction, and mount the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the
roof panel
onto the mount portion with said other one of the roof arch and the roof side
rail and the
flange portion being in contact with each other. Accordingly, as it is
possible to
support a roof arch by flange portions while supporting a roof panel by mount
portions,
a roof component is stably attached to side components.
[0017]
Further, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle-transversally outer
end portion of a roof arch is located in the vehicle-transversal direction
outside the
vehicle-transversally inner end portion of the mount portion, and is directly
joined with
the roof side rail. Thus, it is unnecessary to crush the cross-sectional shape
of a roof
arch, and the strength and the stiffness are increased, compared with the
conventional
technology (the invention disclosed by Patent Document 1) in which a roof arch
has a
portion with a crushed cross-sectional shape. Still further, according to the
present
embodiment, as it is not necessary to use extension members nor pillar
reinforcing
7
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
=
members, the number of joint points is thereby decreased. As a result, a
higher
strength and stiffness are ensured, compared with the conventional technology
(the
invention disclosed by Patent Document 2) which uses extension members and
pillar
reinforcing members.
[0018]
Further, the flange portion preferably includes: a first flange portion formed
on
the roof arch; and a second flange portion formed on the roof side rail and
disposed at a
position where the second flange portion and the first flange portion
vertically overlap
with each other.
[0019]
By this structure, as the flange portions are formed on both the roof arch and
the roof side rail, the shapes of flange portions are simplified, compared
with a case of
forming a flange portion on only one of a roof arch and a roof side rail, and
the
formability of flange portions is thereby improved.
[0020]
Still further, arrangement is preferably made such that: the roof arch is
formed
by joining an arch lower and an arch upper disposed at a position upper than
the arch
lower such as to form a closed cross-section; the first flange portion
includes a front
arch flange portion extending forward from a front end portion of the roof
arch and a
rear arch flange portion extending backward from a rear end portion of the
roof arch;
and the front arch flange portion is formed by one of the arch lower and the
arch upper;
and the rear arch flange portion is formed by both the arch lower and the arch
upper.
[0021]
8
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
If a front arch flange portion were formed by both an arch lower and an arch
upper, then four members of the arch lower, the arch upper, a roof side rail,
and a roof
panel would be joined together, and satisfactory joint could not be made,
causing a drop
in the joint strength. In contrast, by the above-described structure, as a
front arch
flange portion is formed on one of an arch lower and an arch upper, three
members of
the arch lower (or the arch upper), a roof side rail, and a roof panel are
joined together,
and it is thereby possible to decrease the number of joint points and increase
the joint
strength at joint portions.
Further, by this structure, as a rear arch flange portion is formed by both an
arch lower and an arch upper, the strength of the rear arch flange portion is
increased.
[0022]
Yet further, arrangement is preferably made such that: the roof side rail is
formed by joining a roof side inner on a vehicle interior side and a roof side
stiffener on
a vehicle exterior side such as to form a closed cross-section; the second
flange portion
includes a front rail flange portion extending inward in the vehicle-
transversal direction
from a vehicle-transversally inner end portion of the roof side rail, and a
rear rail flange
portion provided with a predetermined interval backward from the front rail
flange
portion and extending inward in the vehicle-transversal direction from the
vehicle-transversally inner end portion of the roof side rail; and the front
rail flange
portion is formed by one of the roof side inner and the roof side stiffener;
and the rear
rail flange portion is formed by both the roof side inner and the roof side
stiffener.
[0023]
If a front rail flange portion were formed by both the roof side inner and the
roof side stiffener, then four members of the roof side inner, the roof side
stiffener, the
9
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
roof arch, and the roof panel would be joined together, and satisfactory joint
could not
be made, causing a drop in the joint strength. In contrast, by the above-
described
structure, as the front rail flange portion is formed by one of the roof side
inner and the
roof side stiffener, three members of the roof side inner (or the roof side
stiffener), the
roof arch, and the roof panel are joined together, and it is thereby possible
to decrease
the number of joint points and increase the joint strength at joint portions.
Further, by this structure, as the rear rail flange portion is formed by both
the
roof side inner and the roof side stiffener, the strength of the rear arch
flange portion is
increased.
[0024]
Further, the first flange portion preferably includes a flange extension
portion
that extends outward in the vehicle-transversal direction and is joined with
the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel.
[0025]
By this structure, as the roof arch includes the flange extension portion to
join
with a roof panel, positioning of the both is accurately performed in
attaching the roof
arch and the roof panel to each other, which improves the accuracy of the
relative
position between the two.
[0026]
Still further, the flange portion preferably includes an extension portion
extending inward in the vehicle-transversal direction from the roof side rail,
at a
position that is offset in the front or rear direction from the roof arch, and
a support
portion extending from an extension end of the extension portion to a lower
side of the
roof arch.
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
[0027]
By this structure, as a flange portion is formed on a roof side rail, the
shape of a
roof arch is simplified to thereby improve the formability of the roof arch,
compared
with a case of forming a flange portion also on the roof arch.
[0028]
Yet further, the flange portion preferably includes an extension portion
extending in the front or rear direction from a position that is spaced apart
inward in the
vehicle-transversal direction at a predetermined interval from the vehicle-
transversally
outer end portion of the roof arch, and a support portion extending from an
extension
end of the extension portion to an upper side of the roof side rail.
[0029]
By this structure, as a flange portion is formed to a roof arch, the shape of
the
roof side rail is simplified to thereby improve the formability of the roof
side rail,
compared with a case of forming a flange portion on a roof side rail.
[0030]
Further, arrangement is preferably made such that: the vehicle-transversally
outer end portion of the roof arch is provided with an arch-side joint portion
extending
in a vertical direction; and a vehicle-transversally inner end portion of the
roof side rail
is provided with a rail-side joint portion extending in parallel with the arch-
side joint
portion.
[0031]
For example, if an arch-side joint portion were inclined such as to be located
on
the outer side in the vehicle-transversal direction as extending from a lower
part to an
upper part, as the angle between a portion of a roof arch, the portion
extending in the
11
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
54585-5
vehicle-transversal direction, and an arch-side joint portion would become
acute
(smaller than 90 degrees), the formability of the roof arch would degrade.
On the other hand, if an arch-side joint portion were inclined such as to be
located on
the inner side in the vehicle-transversal direction as extending from a lower
portion to
an upper portion, the joint surface between the arch-side joint portion and
the rail-side
joint portion would incline. Thus, in attaching a roof component and a side
component
to each other, as it is necessary to simultaneously move the roof component
downward
and move the side component inward in the vehicle-transversal direction, which
would
make the attaching work of these complicated.
In this situation, an arch-side joint portion extends in the vertical
direction; a
rail-side joint portion extends in parallel with the arch-side joint portion;
and thus the
joining surface of the both becomes vertical. The formability of a roof arch
thereby
becomes satisfactory. Further, a side component is moved in the vehicle-
transversal
direction toward a roof component; the rail-side joint portion abuts against
the arch-side
joint portion to define the position in the vehicle-transversal direction; and
thereafter the
roof component is vertically moved to enable position adjustment. Accordingly,
it is
unnecessary to simultaneously move the roof component downward and move the
side
component inward in the vehicle-transversal direction, and the work for
attaching the
both to each other thereby becomes simple and easy.
[0032]
Still further, the roof-side inner and the roof-side stiffener are preferably
joined
at respective joint portions provided between the front rail flange portion
and the rear
rail flange portion.
[0033]
12
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
In the conventional technology (the invention disclosed by Patent Document 2),
as an extension member was provided at a position of intersection between a
roof side
rail and a roof arch, the point also being between the roof-side inner and the
roof-side
stiffener, the roof-side inner and the roof-side stiffener could not be
directly joined with
each other at the intersection portion, and the stiffness of the closed cross-
section of the
roof side rail decreased.
In this situation, a joint portion is provided at a position between a front
rail
flange portion and a rear tail flange portion, the front rail flange portion
and the rear tail
flange portion forming an intersection portion between a roof side rail and a
roof arch,
and a roof side inner and a roof side stiffener are joined through this joint
portion.
Thus, the roof side inner and the roof side stiffener is directly joined with
each other
even at this intersection portion, and accordingly the stiffness of the closed
cross-section
of the roof side rail can be increased.
[0034]
Yet further, arrangement is preferably made such that: the side components
each include a pillar including an upper end portion joined with the roof side
rail; and
the upper end portion of the pillar extends to a position where the upper end
portion of
the pillar overlaps with the arch-side joint portion and the rail-side joint
portion in the
vehicle-transversal direction, and the upper end portion of the pillar is
integrally joined
with the arch-side joint portion and the rail-side joint portion.
[0035]
By such a structure, as the roof side rail, the pillar, and the roof arch are
integrally joined, the number of joint points is decreased, and the stiffness
at the
intersection portion between the roof side rail, the pillar, and the roof arch
is increased.
13
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
[0036]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a method, according to the
present invention, for assembling a vehicle body structure, including:
providing a pair
of side components that are provided on left and right sides of a vehicle body
and form
side portions of the vehicle body; providing a roof component including a roof
arch
disposed between paired side components and a roof panel fitted to an upper
part of the
roof arch and forming an upper surface of the vehicle body; having the side
components
each include a roof side rail that is disposed at an upper side edge of the
vehicle body
and extends in a front or rear direction; having the roof side rail include a
mount portion
that extends inward in a vehicle-transversal direction and has a vehicle-
transversally
outer end portion of the roof panel mounted thereto; and locating a vehicle-
transversally
outer end portion of the roof arch outside a vehicle-transversally inner end
of the mount
portion in the vehicle-transversal direction to join the vehicle-transversally
outer end
portion of the roof arch with the roof side rail; and disposing the vehicle-
transversally
outer end portion of the roof arch at a position that is spaced apart downward
from the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel; a first process for
disposing the
mount portion of the roof side rail between the vehicle-transversally outer
end portion
of the roof arch and the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof
panel; and a
second process for mounting the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the
roof
panel onto the mount portion.
[0037]
According to the present invention, the vehicle-transversally outer end
portion
of the roof arch is disposed at a position that is spaced apart downward from
the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel, and the roof side
rail is
14
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
provided with a mount portion that extends inward in the vehicle-transversal
direction,
wherein the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel is
mounted on the
mount portion. Accordingly, after disposing the mount portion of the roof side
rail
from outside in the vehicle-transversal direction to a position between the
roof arch and
the roof panel, which have been integrally attached to each other in advance,
it is
possible to easily attach a roof component to a side component by just
mounting the
roof panel from above onto the mount portion, which attains satisfactory
workability in
assembling and makes automation of assembly work easy.
[0038]
Further, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle-transversally outer
end portion of the roof arch is located outside the vehicle-transversally
inner end of the
mount portion in the vehicle-transversal direction, and is directly joined
with the roof
side rail. Thus, it is unnecessary to crush the cross-sectional shape of a
roof arch, and
the strength and the stiffness are increased, compared with the conventional
technology
(the invention disclosed by Patent Document 1) in which a roof arch has a
portion with
a crushed cross-sectional shape. Still further, according to the present
embodiment, as
it is not necessary to use extension members nor pillar reinforcing members,
the number
of joint points is thereby decreased. As a result, a higher strength and
stiffness are
ensured, compared with the conventional technology (the invention disclosed by
Patent
Document 2) which uses extension members and pillar reinforcing members.
[0039]
Further, arrangement is preferably made such that, each start position is set
to a
position where the roof component is offset above from the side components,
and where
the vehicle-transversally inner end portion of the mount portion of each of
the side
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
54585-5
components is offset outward in the vehicle-transversal direction from the
vehicle-
transversally outer end portion of the roof component, the first process
includes: a dropping
process for moving downward the roof component relatively to the side
component to dispose
the mount portion of the roof side rail at a position where the mount portion
overlaps, in the
vehicle-transversal direction, with a space between the vehicle-transversally
outer end portion
of the roof panel and the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof
arch; and an
inserting process after the dropping process, for moving the side component
inward in the
vehicle-transversal direction to dispose the mount portion of the roof side
rail at a position
where the mount portion overlaps, in the upper or lower direction, with the
space between the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel and the vehicle-
transversally outer
end portion of the roof arch.
[0039a] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a vehicle
body structure, comprising: a pair of side components that are provided on
left and right sides
of a vehicle body, respectively, and form side portions of the vehicle body;
and a roof
component including a roof arch disposed between paired side components; and a
roof panel
fixed to an upper portion of the roof arch and forming an upper surface of the
vehicle body;
wherein each of the side components includes a roof side rail disposed at an
upper side edge
of the vehicle body and extending in a front or rear direction, wherein the
roof side rail
includes a mount portion extending inward in the vehicle-transversal direction
and including a
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel mounted thereto,
wherein the roof
arch extends between the side components and includes an arch lower and an
arch upper
disposed at a position upper than the arch lower, wherein the arch lower and
the arch upper
are joined together to form a closed cross-section, wherein the roof arch
includes a vehicle-
transversally outer end portion that is located outside a vehicle-
transversally inner end of the
mount portion in the vehicle-transversal direction and is joined with the roof
side rail, wherein
the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof arch is spaced apart
downward from the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel, wherein at least
one of the roof arch
and the roof side rail includes a flange portion that extends toward the other
one of the roof
16
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
54585-5
arch and the roof side rail and comes into contact with said other one of the
roof arch and the
roof side rail to restrict downward movement of the roof arch, wherein the
flange portion is
located at a position upper than the vehicle-transversally outer end portion
of the roof arch,
wherein the mount portion is located between the roof panel and the roof arch
with said other
one of the roof arch and the roof side rail contacting with the flange
portion, and wherein the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel is mounted on the
mount portion,
wherein the flange portion includes: a first flange portion formed on the roof
arch; and a
second flange portion formed on the roof side rail and disposed at a position
where the second
flange portion and the first flange portion vertically overlap with each
other, wherein the first
flange portion includes a front arch flange portion extending forward from a
front end portion
of the roof arch and a rear arch flange portion extending backward from a rear
end portion of
the roof arch, wherein the front arch flange portion is formed by one of the
arch lower and the
arch upper, and wherein the rear arch flange portion is formed by the arch
lower and the arch
upper.
[0039b] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
vehicle body structure, comprising: a pair of side components that are
provided on left and
right sides of a vehicle body, respectively, and form side portions of the
vehicle body; and a
roof component including a roof arch disposed between paired side components;
and a roof
panel fixed to an upper portion of the roof arch and forming an upper surface
of the vehicle
body; wherein each of the side components includes a roof side rail disposed
at an upper side
edge of the vehicle body and extending in a front or rear direction, wherein
the roof side rail
includes a mount portion extending inward in the vehicle-transversal direction
and including a
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel mounted thereto,
wherein the roof
arch includes a vehicle-transversally outer end portion that is located
outside a vehicle-
transversally inner end of the mount portion in the vehicle-transversal
direction and is joined
with the roof side rail, wherein the vehicle-transversally outer end portion
of the roof arch is
spaced apart downward from the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the
roof panel,
wherein at least one of the roof arch and the roof side rail includes a flange
portion that
16a
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
54585-5
extends toward the other one of the roof arch and the roof side rail and comes
into contact
with said other one of the roof arch and the roof side rail to restrict
downward movement of
the roof arch, wherein the flange portion is located at a position upper than
the vehicle-
transversally outer end portion of the roof arch, wherein the mount portion is
located between
the roof panel and the roof arch with said other one of the roof arch and the
roof side rail
contacting with the flange portion, and wherein the vehicle-transversally
outer end portion of
the roof panel is mounted on the mount portion, wherein the flange portion
includes: a first
flange portion formed on the roof arch; and a second flange portion formed on
the roof side
rail and disposed at a position where the second flange portion and the first
flange portion
vertically overlap with each other, wherein the roof side rail is formed by
joining a roof side
inner on a vehicle interior side and a roof side stiffener on a vehicle
exterior side such as to
form a closed cross-section, wherein the second flange portion includes: a
front rail flange
portion extending inward in the vehicle-transversal direction from a vehicle-
transversally
inner end portion of the roof side rail; and a rear rail flange portion
provided with a
predetermined interval backward from the front rail flange portion and
extending inward in
the vehicle-transversal direction from the vehicle-transversally inner end
portion of the roof
side rail, wherein the front rail flange portion is formed by one of the roof
side inner and the
roof side stiffener, and wherein the rear rail flange portion is formed by the
roof side inner and
the roof side stiffener.
[0039c] According to still another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a
vehicle body structure, comprising: a pair of side components that are
provided on left and
right sides of a vehicle body, respectively, and form side portions of the
vehicle body; and a
roof component including a roof arch disposed between paired side components;
and a roof
panel fixed to an upper portion of the roof arch and forming an upper surface
of the vehicle
body; wherein each of the side components includes a roof side rail disposed
at an upper side
edge of the vehicle body and extending in a front or rear direction, wherein
the roof side rail
includes a mount portion extending inward in the vehicle-transversal direction
and including a
vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the roof panel mounted thereto,
wherein the roof
16b
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
=
54585-5
arch includes a vehicle-transversally outer end portion that is located
outside a vehicle-
transversally inner end of the mount portion in the vehicle-transversal
direction and is joined
with the roof side rail, wherein the vehicle-transversally outer end portion
of the roof arch is
spaced apart downward from the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the
roof panel,
wherein at least one of the roof arch and the roof side rail includes a flange
portion that
extends toward the other one of the roof arch and the roof side rail and comes
into contact
with said other one of the roof arch and the roof side rail to restrict
downward movement of
the roof arch, wherein the flange portion is located at a position upper than
the vehicle-
transversally outer end portion of the roof arch, wherein the mount portion is
located between
the roof panel and the roof arch with said other one of the roof arch and the
roof side rail
contacting with the flange portion, and wherein the vehicle-transversally
outer end portion of
the roof panel is mounted on the mount portion, wherein the vehicle-
transversally outer end
portion of the roof arch is provided with an arch-side joint portion extending
in a vertical
direction, wherein a vehicle-transversally inner end portion of the roof side
rail is provided
with a rail-side joint portion extending in parallel with the arch-side joint
portion, wherein
each of the side components includes a pillar including an upper end portion
joined with the
roof side rail, wherein the upper end portion of the pillar extends to a
position where the upper
end portion of the pillar overlaps with the arch-side joint portion and the
rail-side joint portion
in the vehicle-transversal direction, and wherein the upper end portion of the
pillar is
integrally joined with the arch-side joint portion and the rail-side joint
portion.
[0040] Compared with the conventional technology (the invention
disclosed by Patent
Document 2) in which roof arches and a roof panel are mounted onto side
components from
above, it is possible by the above-described arrangement to assemble a vehicle
body structure
for which strength and stiffness are appropriately ensured by only adding two
processes,
namely a dropping process and an inserting process. That is, even without a
significant
modification of conventional assembling processes, a vehicle body structure,
for which
strength and stiffness are appropriately ensured, is assembled, and as
significant change in the
facility on an assembling line or the working attitude of a worker is
unnecessary, it is possible
16c
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
54585-5
to reduce an increase in manufacturing cost and an increase in the working
load on the worker
even with an increase in the number of assembling processes.
16d
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
Advantages of the Invention
[0041]
According to the present invention, a vehicle body structure and a method for
assembling a vehicle body structure is provided, which have the workability
during
assembly satisfactory, the automatization of assembling work easy, and
further, strength
and stiffness adequately ensured.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0042]
FIG us a schematic perspective view of a vehicle body structure in an
embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state viewed from the direction X in
FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective cut view showing a roof side rail, a
roof
arch, and a roof panel;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line in FIG. 2;
FIG 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG 3
FIG. 8A is a plan view of the vehicle body structure in the above embodiment,
and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 8A;
FIGs. 9A to 9C are cross-sectional views for illustrating an assembling
process
of the vehicle body structure in the above embodiment and correspond to FIG.
4, and
17
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
FIGs. 9D to 9F are cross-sectional views for illustrating the assembling
process of the
vehicle body structure in the above embodiment and correspond to FIG. 5;
FIG 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another assembling process of the
vehicle body structure in the above-embodiment;
FIG. 11A is a partial exploded perspective cut view showing a side rail and a
roof arch of a vehicle body structure in a modified example, and FIG. 11B is a
vertical
cross-sectional view of the vehicle body structure in the modified example,
with a cut in
the front or rear direction;
FIG. 12A is a partial exploded perspective cut view showing a side rail and a
roof arch of a vehicle body structure in another modified example, and FIG 12B
is a
vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle body structure in the other
modified example,
with a cut in the vehicle-transversal direction;
FIG. 13A is a perspective view of the intersection portion between a roof side
inner, an arch lower, and a center pillar, viewed from the vehicle interior
side, and FIG.
13B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 13A;
FIG. 14A is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle body
structure in
a conventional example by Patent Document 1, with a cut in the vehicle-
transversal
direction, and FIG 14B is partial vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle
body
structure, with a cut in the vehicle-transversal direction; and
FIG. 15A is a plan view showing the vehicle body structure by the invention
disclosed by Patent Document 2, and FIG 15B is a cross-sectional view, taken
along
line VII-VII in FIG. 15A.
Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention
18
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
[0043]
An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below in
detail, referring to the drawings. In the description, the same reference
symbols will
be assigned to the same elements, and redundant description will be omitted.
In representing directions in the following description, the front, rear,
left, right,
upper, or lower side of a vehicle will be referred to. Incidentally, 'vehicle-
transversal
direction' and 'left or right direction' means the same.
[0044]
FIG 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle body structure 1 in an
embodiment.
As shown in FIG 1, the vehicle body structure 1 in the present embodiment is a
structure for connecting a pair of side components 2, 2, which are provided on
the left
and right sides of a vehicle body to form the lateral side portions of the
vehicle body,
and a roof component 3, which forms the upper portion of the vehicle body.
Incidentally, as the side components 2, 2 are bilaterally symmetric, only the
side component 2 on the left side will be described in the following
description, and
description of the side component 2 on the right side will be omitted.
[0045]
As shown in FIG 1, a side component 2 is mainly provided with a roof side rail
20 extending in the front or rear direction along an upper side edge of the
upper portion
of the vehicle body, a front pillar 2A, which is connected to the front end
portion of the
roof side rail 20 and extends obliquely downward and forward, a center pillar
2B,
whose upper end is connected to the middle portion of the roof side rail 20,
and a rear
pillar 2C, which is connected with the rear end portion of the roof side rail
20 and
19
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
extends downward slightly obliquely and backward. In addition, the side
component 2
is provided with a side sill 2D connected with the lower end of the center
pillar 2B, door
opening portions 2E where doors, not shown, are provided such as to be opened
and
closed, and others.
[0046]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state viewed from direction X in FIG 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective cut view showing the roof side rail
20, a roof
arch 4, and a roof panel 5. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
I-I in FIG
2. FIG 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 2. FIG. 6
is a
cross-sectional view taken along line in FIG 2. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional
view
taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 8A is a plan view of the vehicle body
structure 1
in the present embodiment, and FIG 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along
line V-V
in FIG. 8A. Incidentally, black dots in the figure represent welding points P.
As shown in FIG 4, the roof side rail 20 includes a roof side inner 21, a roof
side stiffener 22, and a roof side outer 23. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the
roof side
rail 20 includes a front rail flange portion 24, a rear rail flange portion
25, and a mount
portion 26.
[0047]
The roof side inner 21, the roof side stiffener 22, and the roof side outer 23
are
formed respectively by press forming of a metal plate such as a steel plate or
an
aluminum plate.
The front rail flange portion 24 and the rear rail flange portion 25
correspond to
'second flange portion' set forth in claims of the present application.
[0048]
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
As shown in FIGs. 3 to 5, the roof side inner 21 includes a roof side inner
main
body 21a (see FIG. 4 and FIG 5) in a plate shape provided with a bent at
plural portions,
an upper joint flange portion 21b (see FIG 4 and FIG 5) formed on the upper
side of the
roof side inner main body 21a, a lower joint flange portion 21c (see FIG. 4
and FIG 5)
formed on the lower side of the roof side inner main body 21a, a front flange
portion
21d (see FIG. 3) extending inward in the vehicle-transversal direction from
the upper
joint flange portion 21b, and a rear flange portion 21e (see FIG 3), which is
provided
posterior to the front flange portion 21d with a predetermined interval
therebetween,
extending inward in the vehicle-transversal direction from the upper joint
flange portion
21b.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 4, the roof side inner main body 21a has a joint portion 21f
extending downward from the vehicle-transversally outer end portion of the
upper joint
flange portion 21b. The joint portion 21f being a rail side joint portion is a
portion for
joining with a later-described arch lower 41 by a bolt B. The joint portion
21f extends
in the vertical direction (upper or lower direction). The joint portion 21f is
provided
with a bolt through-hole 21g which a bolt B penetrates through, and a nut N is
joined by
welding on the backside (outside in the vehicle-transversal direction) of the
bolt
through-hole 21g.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG 5, the upper joint flange portion 21b forming a
part of the mount portion 26 has a predetermined width in the vehicle-
transversal
direction and extends in the front or rear direction, and is joined with the
roof side
stiffener 22 and the roof side outer 23 by welding. The upper joint flange
portion 21b
21
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
includes a portion between the front flange portion 21d and the rear flange
portion 21e,
and this portion is provided with a joint portion 21h extending inward in the
vehicle-transversal direction, as shown in FIG 3 and FIG 7 (particularly as
shown in
FIG. 7).
[0051]
As shown in FIG 4 and FIG 5, the lower joint flange portion 21c extends
obliquely leftward and downward from the lower end portion of a step portion
21n,
which is bent outward in the vehicle-transversal direction, and is joined with
the roof
side stiffener 22 and the roof side outer 23 by welding.
[0052]
The front flange portion 21d of the front rail flange portion 24 has, as shown
in
FIG. 2, an extension portion 21i extending obliquely rightward and upward from
the
vehicle-transversally inner end portion of the upper joint flange portion 21b,
and a
support portion 21j extending inward in the vehicle-transversal direction from
the upper
end portion of the extension portion 21i.
[0053]
The rear flange portion 21e forming a part of the rear rail flange portion 25
has,
as shown in FIG 5, an extension portion 21k extending obliquely rightward and
upward
from the vehicle-transversally inner end portion of the upper joint flange
portion 21b,
and a support portion 211 extending inward in the vehicle-transversal
direction from the
upper end portion of the extension portion 21k. The support portion 211 is
provided
with a bolt insertion hole 21m penetrating through the support portion 211,
wherein a
bolt B is inserted through the bolt insertion hole 21m.
[0054]
22
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
As shown in FIGs. 3 to 5, the roof side stiffener 22 is a member for
reinforcing
the roof side rail 20, and includes a roof side stiffener main body 22a (see
FIG 4) in a
plate shape provided with a bent at plural portions, an upper joint flange
portion 22b
(see FIG 4 and FIG. 5) formed on the upper side of the roof side stiffener
main body
22a, a lower joint flange portion 22c (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) formed on the
lower side of
the roof side stiffener main body 22a, and a flange portion 22d (see FIG. 5)
extending
inward in the vehicle-transversal direction from the upper joint flange
portion 22b
[0055]
The roof side stiffener main body 22a is joined with the roof side inner 21 by
welding at the upper joint flange portion 22b and the lower joint flange
portion 22c.
Thus, the roof side inner 21 and the roof side stiffener 22 form a closed
cross-section
K!.
[0056]
The upper joint flange portion 22b forming a part of the mount portion 26 has
a
predetermined width in the vehicle-transversal direction and extends in the
front or rear
direction, as shown in FIG 4 and FIG. 5, wherein the roof side inner 21 and
the roof side
outer 23 are joined by welding with the upper joint flange portion 22b. The
upper joint
flange portion 22b include a portion in front of the flange portion 22d, and
this portion
is provided with a joint portion 22e extending inward in the vehicle-
transversal
direction, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7 (particularly as shown in FIG 7). The
joint
portion 22e is joined, in contact, with the upper surface of the joint portion
21h of the
roof side inner 21 by welding.
[0057]
23
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the lower joint flange portion 22c extends
obliquely leftward and downward from the lower end portion of a step portion
22f, and
is joined with the roof side inner 21 and the roof side outer 23 by welding.
[0058]
The flange portion 22d forming a part of the rear rail flange portion 25
includes,
as shown in FIG 3 and FIG 5, an extension portion 22g extending obliquely
rightward
and upward from the vehicle-transversally inner end portion of the upper joint
flange
portion 22b, and a support portion 22h extended inward in the vehicle-
transversal
direction from the upper end portion of the extension portion 22g. The support
portion
22h is provided with a bolt insertion hole 22i which a bolt B is inserted
through, as
shown in FIG 5.
[0059]
As shown in FIGs. 3 to 5, the roof side outer 23 includes a roof side outer
main
body 23a (see FIG. 4 and FIG 5) in a plate shape provided with a bent at
plural portions,
an upper joint flange portion 23b (see FIG 4 and FIG 5) formed on the upper
side of the
roof side outer main body 23a, and a lower joint flange portion 23c (see FIG.
4 and FIG.
5) formed on the lower side of the roof side outer main body 23a.
[0060]
The roof side outer main body 23a is joined with the roof side stiffener 22 by
welding at the upper joint flange portion 23b and the lower joint flange
portion 23c.
Thus, the roof side stiffener 22 and the roof side outer 23 form a closed
cross-section
K2.
[0061]
24
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
As shown in FIG 4 and FIG. 5, the upper joint flange portion 23b forming a
part of the mount portion 26 has a predetermined width in the vehicle-
transversal
direction, extends in the front or rear direction, and is joined by welding
with the roof
side inner 21 and the roof side stiffener 22.
[0062]
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG 5, the lower joint flange portion 23c extends
obliquely leftward and downward from the lower end portion of a step portion
23d bent
outward in the vehicle-transversal direction, and is joined with the roof side
inner 21
and the roof side stiffener 22.
[0063]
The front rail flange portion 24 is formed by the front flange portion 21d, as
shown in FIG 2 and FIG 3. That is, the front rail flange portion 24 in the
present
embodiment is formed by one member that is the roof side inner 21, and is
integrally
joined by welding with the front arch flange portion 43 of a later-described
arch upper
42 and the roof panel 5 (see FIGs. 8A and 8B). Thus, three members of the roof
side
inner 21, the arch upper 42, and the roof panel 5 are joined together to
ensure joint so
that the joint strength among these can be increased. Further, the front rail
flange
portion 24 functions as a stopper for stopping the front arch flange portion
43 by contact
with the lower surface of the front arch flange portion 43 in assembling as
described
later.
[0064]
The rear rail flange portion 25 is formed, as shown in FIG 3 and FIG. 5, by
the
rear flange portion 21e and the flange portion 22d. That is, the rear rail
flange portion
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
25 in the present embodiment is formed by two members that are the roof side
inner 21
and the roof side stiffener 22.
Thus, the strength of the rear rail flange portion 25 can be increased. The
rear rail
flange portion 25 is joined by a bolt B, in contact, with a later-described
rear arch flange
portion 44 of the roof arch 4. Further, the rear rail flange portion 25
functions as a
stopper for stopping the arch flange portion 44 by contact with the lower
surface of the
arch flange portion 44 in assembling as described later.
[0065]
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the mount portion 26 has a predetermined width
in the vehicle-transversal direction and extends in the front or rear
direction to mount
the roof panel 5 thereon. The mount portion 26 is formed by laminating and
joining
the upper joint flange portions 21b, 22b, and 23b by welding.
[0066]
Returning to FIG. 1, the roof component 3 is disposed between the pair of side
components 2, 2, and formed mainly by plural roof arches 4, 4 provided with an
interval
between them in the front or rear direction, and the roof panel 5, which is
disposed at a
position upper than these roof arches 4 and forms the upper surface of the
vehicle body.
Incidentally, the present embodiment will be described, taking an example of a
case of applying the vehicle body structure I to the connecting portion
between the roof
arch 4, which is the frontmost one, and the side components 2. Further, as the
roof
component 3 is bilaterally symmetric, only the left side will be described in
the
following and description on the right side will be omitted.
[0067]
26
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
The roof arch 4 extends in the vehicle-transversal direction and reinforces
the
upper part of the vehicle body including the roof panel 5. The vehicle-
transversally
outer end portion 4A of the roof arch 4 is, as shown in FIG. 4, disposed at a
position
lower than the end portion 5A of the roof panel 5 and is spaced apart from the
end
portion 5A. The end portion 4A is disposed in vehicle-transversal direction
outside the
vehicle-transversally inner end portion 26A of the mount portion 26.
[0068]
As shown in FIG. 3, the roof arch 4 includes the arch lower 41, the arch upper
42, the front arch flange portion 43, and the rear arch flange portion 44. The
arch
lower 41 and the arch upper 42 are respectively formed by press-forming of a
metal
plate such as a steel plate, an aluminum plate, or the like. The front arch
flange portion
43 and the rear arch flange portion 44 correspond to 'first flange portion'
set forth in
claims of the present application.
[0069]
As shown in FIG 3 and FIG 6, the arch lower 41 includes an arch lower main
body 41a in a recessed shape opening upward, a front flange portion 41b
extending
forward from the upper end portion of the front end portion 41e of the arch
lower main
body 41a, a rear flange portion 41c extending backward from the upper end
portion of
the rear end portion 41f of the arch lower main body 41a, and a side flange
portion 41d
extending downward from the vehicle-transversally outer end portion 41g of the
arch
lower main body 41a.
[0070]
As shown in FIG. 3, the arch lower main body 41a is substantially in a
rectangular shape in a plan view formed longitudinal in the left or right
direction. The
27
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
outer end portion 41g of the arch lower main body 41a in the vehicle-
transversal
direction is disposed at a position lower than the front flange portion 41b
and the rear
flange portion 41c. In other words, the front flange portion 41b and the rear
flange
portion 41c are formed at positions offset upward with respect to the end
portion 41g.
The front end portion 41e of the arch lower main body 41a is a portion in a
wall shape
extending obliquely upward and forward, and the rear end portion 41f is a
portion in a
wall shape extending obliquely upward and backward (see FIG. 6).
[0071]
As shown in FIG. 3, the front flange portion 41b has a predetermined width in
the front or rear direction, extends in the vehicle-transversal direction, and
is joined with
the arch upper 42 by welding. The outer end portion 41h of the front flange
portion
41b in the vehicle-transversal direction is spaced inward apart from the front
flange
portion 21d of the roof side rail 20 in the vehicle-transversal direction, as
shown in FIG
2, and is disposed at a position where the end portion 41h does not overlap
with the
front flange portion 21d.
[0072]
As shown in FIG 3, the rear flange portion 41c forming a part of the rear arch
flange portion 44 has a predetermined width in the front or rear direction,
extends in the
vehicle-transversal direction, and is joined with the arch upper 42 by welding
or a bolt
B. The outer end portion 41i of the rear flange portion 41c in the vehicle-
transversal
direction is formed wider in the front or rear direction, compared with other
portions,
and is disposed at a position vertically corresponding to the position of the
rear rail
flange portion 25.
[0073]
28
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
=
As shown in FIG 3, the side flange portion 41d is formed by downward
bending the vehicle-transversally outer end portion 41g of the arch lower main
body 41a,
and extends in the upper or lower direction. At the front and rear end
portions of the
side flange portion 41d, provided are joint portions 41k, 41k that are wider
in the upper
or lower direction compared with other portions. Each joint portion 41k as an
arch
side joint portion is provided with a penetrating bolt insertion hole 411
which a bolt B is
inserted through. The joint portion 41k extends, as shown in FIG. 4, parallel
with the
joint portion 21f of the roof side inner 21, and is joined by a bolt B, in
contact, with the
vehicle-transversally inner side of this joint portion 21f.
[0074]
As shown in FIG 3 and FIG. 6, the arch upper 42 includes an arch upper main
body 42a in a recessed shape opening downward, a front flange portion 42b
extending
forward from the lower end portion of the front end portion 42f of the arch
upper main
body 42a, a rear flange portion 42c extending backward from the lower end
portion of
the rear end portion 42g of the arch upper main body 42a, a flange extension
portion
42d extending outward in the vehicle-transversal direction from the rear
flange portion
42c, and beads 42e formed substantially over the entire length in the vehicle-
transversal
direction of the arch upper main body 42a.
[0075]
The arch upper main body 42a is, as shown in FIG. 3, substantially in a
rectangular shape in a plan view and is formed longitudinal in the left or
right direction.
The arch upper main body 42a is, as shown in FIG. 6, joined with the arch
lower 41 by
welding or a bolt B (see FIG. 5) at the front flange portion 42b and the rear
flange
portion 42c. Thus, the arch lower 41 and the arch upper 42 form a closed cross-
section
29
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
K3. The front end portion 42f of the arch upper main body 42a is in a wall
shape
extending obliquely downward and forward, and the rear end portion 42g is in a
wall
shape extending obliquely downward and backward.
[0076]
The outer end portion 42h of the arch upper main body 42a in the
vehicle-transversal direction is, as shown in FIG. 3, located at a position
lower than the
front flange portion 42b and the rear flange portion 42c. In other words, the
front
flange portion 42b and the rear flange portion 42c are formed at positions
offset upward
from the end portion 42h.
[0077]
The end portion 42h includes an inclined wall portion 42i which is inclined
downward as extending outward in the vehicle-transversal direction, bottom
wall
portions 42j extending outward in the vehicle-transversal direction from the
lower end
portion of the inclined wall portion 42i, an upper wall portion 42k extending
outward in
the vehicle-transversal direction from the inclined wall portion 42i and being
disposed
at the center of the bottom wall portions 42j in the front or rear direction
and higher than
the bottom wall portion 42j, and step portions 421, 421 connecting the front
or rear end
portions of the upper wall portion 42k and the bottom wall portions 42j. The
end
portion 42h is, as shown in FIG 4, joined, in contact, with the upper surface
of the end
portion 41g of the arch lower main body 41a by welding. Incidentally, the end
portions, 41g, 42h form the vehicle-transversally outer end portion 4A of the
roof arch
4.
[0078]
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
The front flange portion 42b forming the front arch flange portion 43 is, as
shown in FIG 3, has a predetermined width in the front or rear direction,
extends in the
vehicle-transversal direction, and is joined with the arch lower 41 by
welding. The
outer end portion 42m of the front flange portion 42b in the vehicle-
transversal direction
is, as shown in FIG. 2, disposed at a position vertically corresponding to the
position of
the front flange portion 21d.
[0079]
The rear flange portion 42c forming a part of the rear arch flange portion 44
is,
as shown in FIG. 3, has a predetermined width in the front or rear direction,
extends in
the vehicle-transversal direction, and is joined with the arch lower 41 by
welding or a
bolt B. The outer end portion 42n of the rear flange portion 42c in the
vehicle-transversal direction is formed wider in the front or rear direction,
compared
with other portions, and is disposed at a position vertically corresponding to
the rear rail
flange portion 25 and the rear flange portion 41c. As shown in FIG 5, the end
portion
42n is provided with a bolt insertion hole 42o which a bolt B is inserted
through,
wherein a nut N is joined on the backside (upper side) of the bolt insertion
hole 42o by
welding.
[0080]
The flange extension portion 42d is formed, as shown in FIG. 3, by bending
toward the outside in the vehicle-transversal direction the end portion of a
step portion
42p extending obliquely leftward and downward from the end portion 42n of the
rear
flange portion 42c, and extends in the vehicle-transversal direction. The
flange
extension portion 42d is disposed at a position lower than the rear flange
portion 42c,
and is protruding outer than the end portion 42h of the arch upper main body
42a. As
31
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
shown in FIG 5, the flange extension portion 42d is joined, in contact, with
the lower
surface of the roof panel 5 (flange portion 52) by welding. Thus, position
definition of
the roof arch 4 and the roof panel 5 can be accurately performed in
assembling, and the
accuracy of the relative position between the two is improved.
[0081]
Returning to FIG. 3, the beads 42e are reinforcing structures for increasing
the
stiffness of the arch upper 42. Two beads 42e are provided in a shape convex
upward,
and are separated from each other in the front or rear direction.
[0082]
As shown in FIG 2 and FIG. 3, the front arch flange portion 43 is arranged
such that the outer end portion 41h of the front flange portion 41b of the
arch lower 41
in the vehicle-transversal direction is disposed at a position where the front
flange
portion 21d of the roof side rail 20 does not vertically overlap, and the
outer end portion
42m of the front flange portion 42b of the arch upper 42 in the vehicle-
transversal
direction is disposed at a position vertically corresponding to the front
flange portion
21d. Thus, the front flange portion 42b forms the front arch flange portion
43. That
is, the front arch flange portion 43 in the present embodiment is formed by
one member
that is the arch upper 42, and is integrally joined by welding, in contact,
with the upper
surface of the front rail flange portion 24 and the lower surface of the roof
panel 5 (see
FIGS. 8A and 8B). Further, the front arch flange portion 43 comes in contact
with the
upper surface of the front rail flange portion 24 and is thereby stopped in
assembling as
described later. Thus, the downward movement of the roof component 3 relative
to the
side components 2 is restricted in assembling.
[0083]
32
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG 5, the rear arch flange portion 44 is arranged such
that the outer end portion 41i of the rear flange portion 41c of the arch
lower 41 in the
vehicle-transversal direction and the outer end portion 42n of the rear flange
portion 42c
of the arch upper 42 in the vehicle-transversal direction are disposed at a
position where
the end portion 41i and the end portion 42n vertically correspond to each
other, and the
rear flange portion 41c and the rear flange portion 42c thus form the rear
arch flange
portion 44. That is, the rear arch flange portion 44 in the present embodiment
is
formed by two members that are the arch lower 41 and the arch upper 42. The
strength
of the rear arch flange portion 44 can be thereby increased. The rear arch
flange
portion 44 is joined, in contact, with the upper surface of the rear rail
flange portion 25
by a bolt B. Further, the rear arch flange portion 44 comes in contact with
the upper
surface of the rear rail flange portion 25 and is thus stopped in assembling
as described
later. Thereby, the downward movement of the roof component 3 relative to the
side
component 2 is restricted in assembling.
[0084]
Returning to FIG. 1, the roof panel 5 forms the upper surface of the vehicle
body, and is formed by press-forming of a metal plate such as a steel plate,
an aluminum
plate, or the like. The roof panel 5 is substantially in a rectangular form in
a plan view
formed longitudinal in the front or rear direction, and is disposed at a
position upper
than the roof arches 4, 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer end portion 5A of the
roof
panel 5 in the vehicle-transversal direction or vehicle-transversally outer
end of the roof
panel is provided with a step portion 51 that is bent downward and extends in
the upper
or lower direction, and a flange portion 52 that is formed by bending the
lower end
portion of the step portion 51 outward in the vehicle-transversal direction,
has a
33
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
predetermined width in the vehicle-transversal direction, and extends in the
front or rear
direction.
[0085]
The flange portion 52 is mounted on the mount portion 26 of the roof side rail
20 (see FIG. 4), and is joined, in contact, with the upper surface of the
flange extension
portion 42d by welding (see FIG. 5).
[0086]
In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the end portion 5A of the roof panel 5 is
mounted on the mount portion 26 in a state that the mount portion 26 is
disposed
between the end portion 4A of the roof arch 4 and the end portion 5A. Herein,
the
front arch flange portion 43 contacts with the upper surface of the front rail
flange
portion 24 (see FIG. 2), and the rear arch flange portion 44 contacts with the
upper
surface of the rear rail flange portion 25 (see FIG. 5).
[0087]
Further, as shown in FIGs. 8A and 8B, the front end portion 5B of the roof
panel 5 is disposed at a position which vertically corresponds to the front
end portion
(the front flange portions 41b, 42b) of the roof arch 4. The outer end portion
5B1 of
the front end portion 5B of the roof panel 5 in the vehicle-transversal
direction is
integrally joined by welding with the front rail flange portion 24 and the
front arch
flange portion 43.
[0088]
The vehicle body structure 1 in the present embodiment is basically configured
as described above. In the following, a method for assembling the vehicle body
structure 1 will be described, referring to FIGs. 1 to 9F, as appropriate.
34
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
=
Incidentally, FIGs. 9A to 9C are cross-sectional views for illustration of an
assembling process of the vehicle body structure 1 in the present embodiment,
the FIGs.
9A to 9C corresponding to FIG. 4. FIGs. 9D to 9F are cross-sectional views for
illustration of the assembling process of the vehicle body structure 1 in the
present
embodiment, the FIGs. 9D to 9F corresponding to FIG. 5.
[0089]
First, pair of side components 2, 2, for which roof side rails 20, front
pillars 2A,
and the like are attached, are prepared in advance. In this case, as shown in
FIG. 4 and
FIG. 5, the roof side inner 21, the roof side stiffener 22, and the roof side
outer 23 are
integrally joined by welding at the upper joint flange portions 21b-23b and
the lower
joint flange portions 21c-23c. Further, as shown in FIG 7, the roof side inner
21 and
the roof side stiffener 22 are integrally joined by welding at the joint
portion 21h and the
joint portion 22e.
[0090]
On the other hand, a roof component 3, for which roof arches 4 and a roof
panel 5 are attached to each other, is prepared in advance. In this case, as
shown in
FIG. 6, the arch lower 41 and the arch upper 42 are integrally joined by
welding at the
front flange portions 41b, 42b and the rear flange portions 41c, 42c. Further,
as shown
in FIG 5, the roof arches 4 and the roof panel 5 are integrally joined by
welding at the
flange extension portion 42d and the flange portion 52.
[0091]
Then, in attaching the side component 2 and the roof component 3 to each
other,
as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 9A, a start point is set to a position
where the roof
component 3 is offset upward from the side component 2, and the inner end
portion
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
54585-5
26A of the mount portion 26 in the vehicle-transversal direction is offset
outward in the
vehicle-transversal direction from the vehicle-transversally outer end
portions 4A, 5A of
the roof component 3.
[0092]
Then, as shown in FIG 9A, the roof component 3 is moved downward
relatively to the side component 2 so that the mount portion 26 of the roof
side rail 20 is
disposed at a position where the mount portion 26 overlaps in the vehicle-
transversal
direction with the space between the vehicle-transversally outer end portion
4A of the
roof arch 4 and the vehicle-transversally outer end portion 5A of the roof
panel 5
(dropping process, the first process).
Herein, as shown in FIG 9D, the rear rail flange portion 25 of the roof side
rail
20 is located at a position lower than the flange extension portion 42d of the
roof arch 4
and the flange portion 52 of the roof panel 5.
[0093]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9B, the side component 2 is moved inward in
the vehicle-transversal direction, relatively to the roof component 3, so that
the mount
portion 26 of the roof side rail 20 is disposed at a position where the mount
portion 26
overlaps in the vehicle-transversal direction with the space between the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion 4A of the roof arch 4 and the
vehicle-transversally outer end portion 5A of the roof panel 5 (inserting
process, the
first process).
[0094]
At this moment, as shown in FIG 9B, the joint portion 21f of the roof side
inner 21 comes in contact with the joint portion 41k of the roof arch 4. Thus,
36
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
movement of the side component 2, the movement being inward in the
vehicle-transversal direction and relative to the roof component 3, is
restricted.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9E, the rear rail flange portion 25 of the roof side
rail
20 is disposed below the rear arch flange portion 44 of the roof arch 4.
Further, the front rail flange portion 24 of the roof side rail 20 is disposed
at a
position lower than the front arch flange portion 43 of the roof arch 4 (see
FIG. 8B).
[0095]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9C, the roof component 3 is moved downward
relatively to the side component 2 so that the flange portion 52 of the roof
panel 5 is
mounted on the mount portion 26 of the roof side rail 20 (mounting process,
the second
process).
[0096]
At this moment, as shown in FIG. 9F, the rear arch flange portion 44 of the
roof
arch 4 comes in contact with the rear rail flange portion 25 of the roof side
rail 20 and is
thereby stopped.
Further, the front arch flange portion 43 of the roof arch 4 comes in contact
with the front rail flange portion 24 of the roof side rail 20, and is thereby
stopped (see
FIG. 8B).
Accordingly, as the roof panel 5 is mounted on the roof side rail 20 and the
roof
arch 4 comes in contact with the roof side rail 20 to be stopped, the downward
movement of the roof component 3 relative to the side component 2 is
restricted.
[0097]
In this state, as shown in FIG. 9C, a bolt B is inserted through the bolt
insertion
hole 411 of the joint portion 41k and the bolt insertion hole 21g of the joint
portion 21f,
37
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
54585-5
and is screw-engaged with a nut N so that the both are joined with each other
(joint
process, the third process).
Further, as shown in FIG 9F, a bolt B is inserted through the bolt insertion
holes 41j, 420 of the rear arch flange portion 44 and the bolt insertion holes
21m, 22i of the
rear rail flange portion 25, and is screw-engaged with a nut N so that the
both are joined
with each other.
Further, the vehicle-transversally outer end portion 5B1 of the front end
portion
5B of the roof panel 5, the front arch flange portion 43 of the roof arch 4,
and the front
rail flange portion 24 of the roof side rail 20 are integrally joined by
welding (see FIG
8B).
[0098]
Incidentally, although the method for assembling in the present embodiment
includes the dropping process and the inserting process, the dropping process
may be
omitted, as shown in FIG 10, by moving the side component 2 obliquely upward
in the
vehicle-transversally inward direction relatively to the roof component 3, and
disposing
the mount portion 26 of the roof side rail 20 at a position where the mount
portion 26
overlaps in the upper or lower direction with the space between the end
portion 4A of
the roof arch 4 and the end portion 5A of the roof panel 5.
[0099]
According to the above-described embodiment, the outer end portion 4A of the
roof arch 4 in the vehicle-transversal direction is disposed at a position
spaced
downward apart from the vehicle-transversally outer end portion 5A of the roof
panel 5;
the roof side rail 20 extends inward in the vehicle-transversal direction; and
the roof
side rail 20 is provided with the mount portion 26 which extends inward in the
38
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
vehicle-transversal direction for mounting the vehicle-transversally outer end
portion
5A of the roof panel 5. Thereby, after disposing the mount portion 26 of the
roof side
rail 20 from the outside in the vehicle-transversal direction at a position
between the
roof arch 4 and the roof panel 5 which are integrally attached to each other
in advance,
the roof component 3 can be easily attached to the side component 2 by only
mounting
the roof panel 5 onto the mount portion 26 from the above. Thus, a
satisfactory
workability in assembling is attained and automatization of assembling work is
made
easy.
[0100]
In the present embodiment, the roof side rail 20 and the roof arch 4 include a
front rail flange portion 24 and a rear rail flange portion 25; and a front
arch flange
portion 43 and a rear arch flange portion 44, respectively, which come in
contact with
each other to restrict the downward movement of the roof arch 4, and it is
thereby
possible to define the vertical position of the roof arch 4 relative to the
each roof side
rail 20. Accordingly, as it is possible to support the roof arch 4 by the
front rail flange
portions 24 and the like while supporting the roof panel 5 by mount portions
26, the
roof component 3 can be stably attached to the side components 2.
[0101]
Particularly, compared with the conventional technology (the invention
disclosed by Patent Document 2) in which roof arches 4 and a roof panel 5 are
mounted
onto side components 2 from above, it is possible in the present embodiment to
assemble the vehicle body structure 1 for which strength and stiffness can be
appropriately ensured by only adding two processes, namely a dropping process
and an
inserting process. That is, even without a significant modification of
conventional
39
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
assembling processes, the vehicle body structure 1, for which strength and
stiffness are
appropriately ensured, can be assembled, and as significant change in the
facility on an
assembling line or in the working attitude of a worker is unnecessary, it is
possible to
reduce an increase in manufacturing cost and an increase in the working load
on the
worker even with an increase in the number of assembling processes.
[0102]
Further, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle-transversally outer
end portion 4A of a roof arch 4 is located in the vehicle-transversal
direction outside the
vehicle-transversally inner end portion 26A of the mount portion 26, and
further, the end
portion 4A is directly joined with the joint portions 21f of the roof side
rail 20 at the
joint portions 41k. Thus, it is unnecessary to crush the cross-sectional shape
of a roof
arch 4, and the strength and the stiffness are increased, compared with the
conventional
technology (the invention disclosed by Patent Document 1) in which a roof arch
4 has a
portion with a crushed cross-sectional shape.
[0103]
Still further, according to the present embodiment, as it is not necessary to
use
extension members nor pillar reinforcing members, the number of joint points
can be
thereby decreased. As a result, a higher strength and stiffness can be
ensured,
compared with the conventional technology (the invention disclosed by Patent
Document 2) which uses extension members and pillar reinforcing members.
[0104]
According to the present embodiment, the front rail flange portion 24 is
formed
by only the roof side inner 21, and the front arch flange portion 43 is formed
by only the
arch upper 42. Accordingly, three members of the roof side inner 21, the arch
upper
= CA 02840753 2013-12-30
42, and the roof panel 5 are joined together, which makes it possible to
decrease the
number of joint points and increase the joint strength at a joint portion,
compared with a
case of forming a front arch flange portion 43 by both an arch lower 41 and an
arch
upper 42 and a case of forming a front rail flange portion 24 by both a roof
side inner 21
and a roof side stiffener 22.
[0105]
According to the present embodiment, as the rear rail flange portion 25 is
formed by both the roof side inner 21 and the roof side stiffener 22, the
strength of the
rear rail flange portion 25 can be increased.
Further, as the rear arch flange portion 44 is formed by both the arch lower
41
and the arch upper 42, the strength of the rear arch flange portion 44 can be
increased.
[0106]
According to the present embodiment, the joint portions 21h, 22e are provided
at a position between the front rail flange portion 24 and the rear rail
flange portion 25,
the position being the intersection of the roof side rail 20 and the roof arch
4, and the
roof side inner 21 and the roof side stiffener 22 are joined at the joint
portions 21h, 21e.
Thus, the roof side inner 21 and the roof side stiffener 22 can be directly
joined also at
this intersection, which increases the stiffness of the closed cross-section
of the roof side
rail 20.
[0107]
According to the present embodiment, the front rail flange portion 24, the
front
arch flange portion 43, and the like are formed on both the roof side rail 20
and the roof
arch 4. Thus, compared with a case of forming the flange portion only on one
of the
roof side rail 20 and the roof arch 4, it is possible to simplify the shapes
of the front rail
41
CA 02840753 2015-09-08
54585-5
flange portion 24, the front arch flange portion 43, and the like, and improve
the formability
of the front rail flange portion 24, the front arch flange portion 43, and the
like.
[0108] According to the present embodiment, the joint portion 41k
extends in the
vertical direction; the joint portion 21f extends in parallel to the joint
portion 41k; and thus the
joining surface between these becomes vertical. The formability of the roof
arch 4 thereby
becomes satisfactory. Further, the side component 2 is moved in the vehicle-
transversal
direction toward the roof component 3; the joint portion 21f is hit against
the joint portion 41k
to define the position in the vehicle-transversal direction; and thereafter
the roof component 3
is vertically moved to enable position adjustment. Accordingly, it is
unnecessary to
simultaneously move the roof component 3 downward and move the side component
2 inward
in the vehicle-transversal direction, and the work for attaching the both to
each other thereby
becomes simple and easy.
[0109] According to the present embodiment, as the roof arch 4
includes the flange
extension portion 42d for joining with the flange portion 52 of the roof panel
5, positioning of
the both can be accurately performed in attaching the roof arch 4 and the roof
panel 5 to each
other, which improves the accuracy of the relative position between the two.
[0110] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set
forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation
consistent with the
description as a whole.
42
= CA 02840753 2013-12-30
[0111]
The present embodiment has been described, taking an example of a case of
applying a vehicle body structure 1 according to the invention to the
connection portion
of the frontmost roof arch 4 and side components 2, it is of course also
possible to apply
the vehicle body structure 1 to the roof arch 4 disposed at the center and the
roof arch 4
disposed at the rear.
[0112]
Further, although, in the present embodiment, the front rail flange portion 24
is
formed by one member that is the roof side inner 21, the invention is not
limited thereto,
and the front rail flange portion 24 may be formed by one member that is the
roof side
stiffener 22 and may be formed by two members that are the roof side inner 21
and the
roof side stiffener 22.
[0113]
Still further, although, in the present embodiment, the rear rail flange
portion
25 is formed by two members that are the roof side inner 21 and the roof side
stiffener
22, the invention is not limited thereto, and the rear rail flange portion 25
may be
formed by one member that is either the roof side inner 21 or the roof side
stiffener 22.
[0114]
Yet further, although, in the present embodiment, the front arch flange
portion
43 is formed by one member that is the arch upper 42, the invention is not
limited
thereto, and the front arch flange portion 43 may be formed by one member that
is the
arch lower 41, and may be formed by two members that are the arch lower 41 and
the
arch upper 42.
[0115]
43
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
Further, in the present embodiment, the rear arch flange portion 44 is formed
by two members that are the arch lower 41 and the arch upper 42, the invention
is not
limited thereto, and the rear arch flange portion 44 may be formed by one
member that
is either the arch lower 41 or the arch upper 42.
[0116]
Still further, as shown in FIG. 11A, it is also possible to omit the
vehicle-transversally outer end portions 41i, 42n of the rear flange portion
41c and the
rear flange portion 42c on the one hand, and modify the structures of the
front flange
portion 21d and the rear flange portion 21e of the roof side inner 21 on the
other hand.
Incidentally, FIG 11A is a partial exploded perspective cut view showing a
roof side rail
20 and a roof arch 4 of a vehicle body structure 1 in a modified example, and
FIG. 11B
is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vehicle body structure 1 in the
modified example,
with a cut in the front or rear direction.
[0117]
As shown in FIG. 11A, the front flange portion 21d in the modified example is
disposed with a predetermined interval forward from the end portion 4A of the
roof arch
4, and is provided with an extension portion 21d1 extending inward in the
vehicle-transversal direction and a support portion 21d2 extending backward
from the
extension end of this extension portion 21d1 to the lower side of the roof
arch 4.
Further, the rear flange portion 21e is disposed with a predetermined interval
backward
from the end portion 4A (extension portion 21d1) of the roof arch 4, and is
provided
with an extension portion 21ei extending inward in the vehicle-transversal
direction and
a support portion 21e2 extending forward from the extension end of this
extension
portion 21ei to the lower side of the roof arch 4.
44
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
=
54585-5
[0118]
As shown in FIG 11B, the support portion 21d2 functions as a stopper by
contact with the front flange portion 41b of the arch lower 41 to stop the
arch lower 41.
Further, the support portion 21e2 functions as a stopper by contact with the
rear flange
portion 41c of the arch lower 41. By such a structure, as the flange portion
for contact
between the roof side rail 20 and the roof arch 4 is formed only on the roof
side rail 20,
the shape of the roof arch 4 can be simplified to thereby improve the
formability of the
roof arch 4, compared with a case of forming a flange portion also on the roof
arch 4.
[0119]
Further, as shown in FIG 12A, it is also possible to omit the front flange
portion 21d, the rear flange portion 21e, and the flange portion 22d on the
one hand, and
modify the structures of the front flange portion 42b and the rear flange
portion 42c of
the arch upper 42 on the other hand. Incidentally, FIG. 12A is a partial
exploded
perspective cut view showing the roof side rail 20 and the roof arch 4 of the
vehicle
body structure 1 in another modified example, and FIG. 12B is a vertical cross-
sectional
view of the vehicle body structure 1 in the other modified example, with a cut
in the
vehicle-transversal direction.
[0120]
As shown in FIG 12A, the front flange portion 42b in the modified example is
provided with an extension portion 42b1 extending forward compared with other
portions, and a support portion 42b2 extending outward in the vehicle-
transversal
direction from the extension end of this extension portion 42b1 to a point
above the roof
side rail 20. Further, the rear flange portion 42c is provided with an
extension portion
42c1 extending backward compared with other portions, and a support portion
42c2
CA 02840753 2016-06-02
= = 54585-5
extending outward in the vehicle-transversal direction from the extension end
of this
extension portion 42c1 to a point above of the roof side rail 20. The
respective extension
portions 42b1, 42c1 are provided with a predetermined interval inward in the
vehicle-transversal direction from the vehicle-transversally outer end portion
42h (the
end edge of the end portion 42h in detail) of the arch upper main body 42a.
[0121]
As shown in FIG 12B, the support portions 42b2, 42c2 are stopped by contact
with the upper surface of the upper joint flange portion 23b of the roof side
outer 23.
By such a structure, as the flange portion for contact between the roof side
rail 20 and
the roof arch 4 is formed only on the roof arch 4, the shape of the roof side
rail 20 can
be simplified to thereby improve the formability of the roof side rail 20,
compared with
a case of forming a flange portion also on the roof side rail 20.
[0122]
Further, as shown in FIGs. 13A and 13B, the joint portion 21f of the roof side
inner 21, the joint portion 41k of the arch lower 41, and the center pillar
inner 2B1 of the
center pillar 2B may be integrally joined by a bolt B. Incidentally, FIG 13A
is a
perspective view of the intersection portion between the roof side inner 21,
the arch
lower 41, and the center pillar 2B, viewed from the vehicle interior side, and
FIG 13B is
a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG 13A. The present modified
example will be described, taking an example of a case of application is made
to the
connection portion between a roof arch 4 (see FIG 1) and a side component 2.
[0123]
As shown in FIG 13B, the upper end portion 2B2 of the center pillar inner 2B1
forming a part of the center pillar 2B is disposed between the roof side inner
21 and the
46
= CA 02840753 2013-12-30
roof side stiffener 22, and extends in parallel to the joint portion 21f. The
upper end
portion 2B2 of the center pillar inner 2B1 is provided with a bolt insertion
hole 2B3
which a bolt B is inserted through, and is integrally joined by the bolt B
with the roof
side inner 21 and the arch lower 41, in contact with the vehicle-transversally
outer side
of the joint portion 21f. By such a structure, as the roof side rail 20, the
center pillar
2B, and the roof arch 4 are integrally joined, the number of joint points can
be decreased,
and the stiffness at the intersection portion between the roof side rail 20,
the center pillar
2B, and the roof arch 4 is increased. Incidentally, the structures in the
modified
example can be of course applied to a front pillar 2A, a rear pillar 2C, and
the like.
[0124]
Further, although, in the present embodiment, the front flange portion 21d
that
contacts with the front flange portion 42b of the arch upper 42 is provided on
the roof
side rail 20, a flange portion that contacts with the front flange portion 42b
of the arch
upper 42 may be provided on the front pillar 2A.
Description of Reference Characters
[0125]
1 vehicle body structure
2 side component
20 roof side rail
21 roof side inner
21d front flange portion
21e rear flange portion
21f joint portion (rail-side joint portion)
47
4 CA 02840753 2013-12-30
21h joint portion
21d1 extension portion (flange portion)
21d2 support portion (flange portion)
21e1 extension portion (flange portion)
21e2 support portion (flange portion)
22 roof side stiffener
22d flange portion
22e joint portion
23 roof side outer
24 front rail flange portion (flange portion, second flange portion)
25 rear rail flange portion (flange portion, second flange portion)
26 mount portion
26A inner end portion in a vehicle-transversal direction or vehicle-
transversally inner
end portion
2A front pillar (pillar)
2B center pillar (pillar)
2B1 center pillar inner
2B2 upper end portion
2C rear pillar (pillar)
3 roof component
4 roof arch
4A outer end portion in a vehicle-transversal direction or vehicle-
transversally outer
end portion
41 arch lower
48
CA 02840753 2013-12-30
41b front flange portion
41c rear flange portion
41d side flange portion
41k joint portion (roof-side joint portion)
42 arch upper
42b front flange portion
42c rear flange portion
42d flange extension portion
42b1 extension portion (flange portion)
42b2 support portion (flange portion)
42c1 extension portion (flange portion)
42c2 support portion (flange portion)
43 front arch flange portion (flange portion, first flange portion)
44 rear arch flange portion (flange portion, first flange portion)
roof panel
5A outer end portion in a vehicle-transversal direction or vehicle-
transversally outer
end portion
5B front end portion
Kl, K2, K3 closed cross-section
49
